Using miles for US to Africa flight
Jun 21st, 2006, 10:40 AM
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Using miles for US to Africa flight
Has anyone ever had any success in using miles for booking a business class seat on SAA's direct flight from JFK or Dulles to JNB?
We thought by booking 330 days in advance, we could score the seats, but are finding it much more difficult.
Looks like we'll have to go through Europe.... making much more travel time....
We thought by booking 330 days in advance, we could score the seats, but are finding it much more difficult.
Looks like we'll have to go through Europe.... making much more travel time....
Jun 21st, 2006, 12:51 PM
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parkertraveler:
I was just looking at my calender to determine when the 330 days was for booking my business class seats. We are planning on going in June 07. Obviously our first choice would be direct if possible. We are in LA so would have to get to one of the other locations. We have United Miles. Do you anticipate problems getting flights from Europe if necessary into Africa. This appears to be where the problems arise.
I was just looking at my calender to determine when the 330 days was for booking my business class seats. We are planning on going in June 07. Obviously our first choice would be direct if possible. We are in LA so would have to get to one of the other locations. We have United Miles. Do you anticipate problems getting flights from Europe if necessary into Africa. This appears to be where the problems arise.
Jun 22nd, 2006, 04:40 PM
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We are using United miles and were on a Lufthansa flight. We had to go through Frankfurt. However,we were switched to SAA, which is now flying out of many different European cities. I don't think you should have a problem.
Jun 23rd, 2006, 03:33 AM
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The SA flights from Wash or NY are probably best, because you don't have to change planes (though you do make a fuel stop in each direction).
If you go through Europe without stopping over, the trip over is not very nice: all of the flights from the US to European gateways (on *A) arrive in the morning, and all of the flights from Europe to S. Africa depart in the evening.
However, United internation FF tickets do allow you to make 1 stopover, so it's a great idea to spend a few days in Europe on your way to safari. If you can't get back to the States on one of the direct SA flights, the connections in Europe are much better on the way back from S. Africa to North America.
In Europe, gateways to S. Africa include London, Paris, Frankfurt, and Zurich.
If you go through Europe without stopping over, the trip over is not very nice: all of the flights from the US to European gateways (on *A) arrive in the morning, and all of the flights from Europe to S. Africa depart in the evening.
However, United internation FF tickets do allow you to make 1 stopover, so it's a great idea to spend a few days in Europe on your way to safari. If you can't get back to the States on one of the direct SA flights, the connections in Europe are much better on the way back from S. Africa to North America.
In Europe, gateways to S. Africa include London, Paris, Frankfurt, and Zurich.
Jun 23rd, 2006, 07:14 AM
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I used my Alaska miles to get tix in Business Class. (The same as Northwest--resulting in flights on British Air) Perhaps everyone else already knows this--but I was told to do the following:
1. 330 days before departure to Africa, I booked the flight to Africa with "open" return.
2. Then on 330 days before the "return" date, I did a "change" by adding the "return" portion. Depending on the airline and the milage level, you might be charged like $50 for the "change"
I was so surprised to hear how quickly London-Nairobi portion fills up.
1. 330 days before departure to Africa, I booked the flight to Africa with "open" return.
2. Then on 330 days before the "return" date, I did a "change" by adding the "return" portion. Depending on the airline and the milage level, you might be charged like $50 for the "change"
I was so surprised to hear how quickly London-Nairobi portion fills up.
Jun 23rd, 2006, 08:27 AM
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The problem is lots of people are looking for the seats. You need to be sure you're the first to ask for them.
For hard to get seats my strategy is to call throughout the two days before seats are to become available. I have gotten much coveted seats as early as 40 hours before they were supposed to be available (this was on Northwest). Seat availability is a function of timezones and when batch driven computer programs actually release the seats.
Once I called Swissair at 12:01am eastern and was told the seats hadn't been released. I called back at 12:10am and they were there. It's not exactly a precise science. If you really want a particular route or time you have to make it a mission to probe ahead of the official release.
Partner airlines seem to get the seats some days after the actual carrier itself has released sets to it's own flyer club members.
No matter how many travel agents or airline employees I ask, it seems no one knows how many seats for frequent travel miles will, for certain, be released for any given flight. Even if they open up the flight at 330 days prior you're never quite sure how many seats may come online later. Always respect the bird in the hand.
For hard to get seats my strategy is to call throughout the two days before seats are to become available. I have gotten much coveted seats as early as 40 hours before they were supposed to be available (this was on Northwest). Seat availability is a function of timezones and when batch driven computer programs actually release the seats.
Once I called Swissair at 12:01am eastern and was told the seats hadn't been released. I called back at 12:10am and they were there. It's not exactly a precise science. If you really want a particular route or time you have to make it a mission to probe ahead of the official release.
Partner airlines seem to get the seats some days after the actual carrier itself has released sets to it's own flyer club members.
No matter how many travel agents or airline employees I ask, it seems no one knows how many seats for frequent travel miles will, for certain, be released for any given flight. Even if they open up the flight at 330 days prior you're never quite sure how many seats may come online later. Always respect the bird in the hand.
Jun 23rd, 2006, 10:21 AM
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Award seats are indeed hard to find, but don't give up! I managed to use my UA miles to book two award seats in first class using United from LAX-LHR connecting to SAA from LHR-JNB and then onward to Windhoek, Namibia. I booked the tickets immediately after SAA became a Star Alliance member and award seats were more plentiful than you may find currently. Good luck!
Jun 24th, 2006, 12:03 AM
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we tried when SAA was partners with Delta and was told by the Delta agent that they only give one seat in business class per flight on average so impossible to get 2 seats on the aircraft. Not sure if this is how they operate with the new alliance but we went through Europe last year to get business class.
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